Automotive computing devices with emergency power shut down capabilities

• US 7,099,991 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Drasnin, Sharon, Radko, Ronald Otto, Beckert, Richard Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): PEIKARI, BEHZAD
• Application Number:
  US10/970,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3225 of memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3275 Power saving in memory, e.g. RAM, cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/08 in hierarchically structured memory systems, e.g. virtual memory systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/2022 Flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating automotive computing devices are described. In one embodiment, a small amount of static RAM (SRAM) is incorporated into an automotive computing device. The SRAM is battery-backed to provide a non-volatile memory space in which critical data can be maintained in the event of a power loss. Circuitry is provided to ensure that the SRAM receives back up power from the battery at the appropriate time. Software manages the SRAM and the other storage assembly components and makes use of virtual paging or virtual addressing techniques to keep track of where various pages, including object store pages, are stored in the system. The software knows exactly where all of the object store pages are stored so that in the event of a power loss, the page locations are known and hence the pages can be used when power is restored.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

holding object store pages in a non-volatile storage for an automotive computing device;

receiving object store pages in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) operably associated with the non-volatile storage; and

connecting static random access memory (SRAM) to a battery so that one or more object store pages can be preserved therein in the event of an automotive power loss, the SRAM operably associated with the non-volatile memory.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the holding object store pages in a non-volatile storage comprises holding object store pages in flash memory.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiving object store pages in DRAM comprises receiving object store pages in one or more DRAMs or SDRAMs.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising operably coupling a battery with the SRAM in response to an automotive power loss.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein operably coupling a battery with the SRAM comprises operably coupling a single cell battery with the SRAM.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein operably coupling a battery with the SRAM comprises operably coupling a lithium cell battery with the SRAM.

7. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable

holding object store pages in a non-volatile storage for an automotive computing device;

receiving object store pages in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) operably associated with the non-volatile storage; and

connecting static random access memory (SRAM) to a battery so that one or more object store pages can be preserved therein in the event of an automotive power loss, the SRAM operably associated with the non-volatile memory.

8. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the holding object store pages in a non-volatile storage comprises holding object store pages in flash memory.

9. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the receiving object store pages in DRAM comprises receiving object store pages in one or more DRAMs or SDRAMs.

10. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, having further computer-executable instructions configured for operably coupling a battery with the SRAM in response to an automotive power loss.

11. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 10, wherein operably coupling a battery with the SRAM comprises operably coupling a single cell battery with the SRAM.

12. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 10, wherein operably coupling a battery with the SRAM comprises operably coupling a lithium cell battery with the SRAM.

13. An automotive computing device memory system comprising:

means for holding object store pages in a non-volatile storage for an automotive computing device;

means for reeeiying object store pages in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) operably associated with the non-volatile storage; and

means for connecting static random access memory (SRAM) to a battery so that one or more object store pages can be preserved therein in the event of an automotive power loss, the SRAM operably associated with the non-volatile memory.

14. The automotive computing device memory system as recited in claim 13, wherein the means for holding object store pages in a non-volatile storage comprises means for holding object store pages in flash memory.

15. The automotive computing device memory system as recited in claim 13, wherein the means for receiving object store pages in DRAM comprises means for receiving object store pages in one or more DRAMs or SDRAMs.

16. The automotive computing device memory system as recited in claim 13, further comprising means for operably coupling a battery with the SRAM in response to an automotive power loss.

17. The automotive computing device memory system as recited in claim 16, wherein the means for operably coupling a battery with the SRAM comprises means for operably coupling a single cell battery with the SRAM.

18. The automotive computing device memory system as recited in claim 16, wherein the means for operably coupling a battery with the SRAM comprises means for operably coupling a lithium cell battery with the SRAM.